diff --git a/src/sdcv.cpp b/src/sdcv.cpp
index 29635d4..170ac2f 100644
--- a/src/sdcv.cpp
+++ b/src/sdcv.cpp
@@ -219,12 +219,15 @@ try {
         search_result rval = SEARCH_SUCCESS;
         gchar **p = get_impl(word_list);
         while (*p) {
-            if ((rval = lib.process_phrase(*p++, *io, non_interactive)) != SEARCH_SUCCESS) {
-                return rval;
-            }
+            search_result this_rval = lib.process_phrase(*p++, *io, non_interactive);
+            // If we encounter any error, save it but continue through the word
+            // list to check all requested words.
+            if (rval == SEARCH_SUCCESS)
+                rval = this_rval;
         }
+        if (rval != SEARCH_SUCCESS)
+            return rval;
     } else if (!non_interactive) {
-
         std::string phrase;
         while (io->read(_("Enter word or phrase: "), phrase)) {
             if (lib.process_phrase(phrase.c_str(), *io) == SEARCH_FAILURE)
diff --git a/tests/t_json b/tests/t_json
index 1887b0b..79db5f6 100755
--- a/tests/t_json
+++ b/tests/t_json
@@ -22,4 +22,7 @@ test_json '[{"name": "Test synonyms", "wordcount": "2"},{"name": "Sample 1 test
 test_json '[{"dict": "Test synonyms","word":"test","definition":"\u000aresult of test"}]' -x -j -n --data-dir "$TEST_DIR" foo
 test_json '[]' -x -j -n --data-dir "$TEST_DIR" foobarbaaz
 
+# Test multiple searches, with the first failing.
+test_json '[][{"dict": "Test synonyms","word":"test","definition":"\u000aresult of test"}]' -x -j -n --data-dir "$TEST_DIR" foobarbaaz foo
+
 exit 0